Attachment for the button clamp of button sewing machines,for holding a shank tube to be sewn on together with the button

ABSTRACT

So that the stitches securing a button shall form a shank protected in a shank tube to be sewn on with the button, an attachment which is an auxiliary clamp to hold the tubular element, is provided for mounting onto the button clamp of the button sewing machine; such auxiliary clamp having adjustment means to orient it to the button clamp.

United States Patent [191 Snyder 1 Feb. 13, 1973 [54] ATTACHMENT FOR THE BUTTON CLAMP OF BUTTON SEWING MACHINES, FOR HOLDING A SHANK TUBE TO BE SEWN ON TOGETHER WITH THE BUTTON [75] Inventor: Benjamin L. Snyder, Hillside, NJ.

[73] Assignee: Pentapco, Inc., Elizabeth, NJ.

[22] Filed: Jan. 18, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 106,986

[52] US. Cl ..112/114 [51] Int. Cl. ..D05b 3/00 [58] Field of Search ....24/90 TA; 112/105, 108-110,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,405,477 2/1922 Barron ..112/114 1,531,019 3/1925 Orlow ..112/114 3,098,459 7/1963 Bono ..112/114 3,440,984 '4/1969 Hofe ..l 12/1 10 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 363,874 12/1931 Great Britain ..112/114 Primary ExaminerJordan Franklin Assistant ExaminerG. V, Larkin Attorney-Abraham Friedman et al.-

[57] ABSTRACT So that the stitches securing a button shall form a shank protected in a shank tube to be sewn on with the button, an attachment which is an auxiliary clamp to hold the tubular element, is provided for mounting onto the button clamp of the button sewing machine; such auxiliary clamp having adjustment means to orient it to the button clamp.

7 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures ATTACHMENT FOR THE BUTTON CLAMP OF BUTTON SEWING MACHINES, FOR HOLDING A SHANK TUBE TO BE SEWN ON TOGETHER WITH THE BUTTON The present invention relates to button-sewing machines in which a button is held by a clamp, in proper position for needle action, and more particularly to an attachment to said existing button clamps, which attachment is itself a clamp for holding a relatively small tubular element coaxially under the button position, so the button, and such an element resting on the work, are sewn on together, whereby the stitches form a shank for the button, and said tubular element which determines shank length, serves to'protectthe shank threads against wear and tear. One form of this sort of tubular element is shown in my US. Pat. No. 3,390,434 of July 2, 1968, and is illustrated herein in the use of my new attachment.

The usual button clamp comprises a frame plate carrying two pivoted lever jaws which extend forwardly into space and are biased to closed position by use of a wire bow spring. The clamp device is free for opening, but limited for closing, and of course is for the accommodation of buttons of different diameters, for which purpose there is a cam slidably mounted on the frame plate and adjustable to any position whereby minimum jaw opening is determined by the resulting shift of the lever jaws. A finger extending from the cam, centrally between and along said lever jaws, acts as a stop gauge for the button being inserted into the clamp. The entire button clamp is carried on a cam-controlled swingable bracket by screws through slots at the rear edge of the said frame member; said bracket being operated to bring the clamp down onto the work when the clamp is loaded with a button, and to lift the clamp after the button is sewed on, so the work can be manually freed from the button clamp.

Mounting of the button clamp onto its swingable holder so thata test button held in the clamp is in proper center? position at needle station, is not an adjustment which offers any considerable degree of precision and needs meddling at the mounting screws while the machine is being edged. Such adjustment being finally arrived at by testing for proper needle movement through the holes in the button, it could then be expected that the design of the device is intended that a button of any size thereafter mounted in the button clamp between the clamp jaws and said finger, would automatically be at the required center position for proper needle action.

I soon ascertained that what may be attributable to inherent defects and incidents of structure, design and wear, these button clamps in use, though not roughly made, did lack a required higher precision and capability of performance. I found thatnot only in making adjustments for change of button diameter, was the center" not constant on such device, but even its traveling"to center moved off center line, such latter deviation being quite up to 1/] 6th of an inch from true. Change of button size, meant change of button clamp position and the introduction of various errors.

It therefore caused consideration that merely adding an auxiliary clamp to hold the shank tube on these existing button clamps, would be useless, because there is a wide range in the button diameters controlled by a geometrically defective mechanism, while the diameter attachment fit as a workable adjunct to said presently existing button clamps, without increasing what had to be done to properly set the button clamp, and to hold in mind that the auxiliary clamp can use butvery little space downward from the underside of the button clamp lever jaws. In essence, we are dealing here with an environment having low precision, for which must be provided means to manipulate the auxiliary clamp to attain the precision required for its relation to the button clamp.

It is therefore the principal object of this invention to provide for said existing button clamps installed on button sewing machinery, an attachment offering a clamp for a tubular element of the kind mentioned, capable of being oriented so the center it determines for said tubular element shall be coaxial with the button center, or so very near to such relationship as will allow both the button and said tube to be sewed together onto the work by the machines needle action; there being a little leeway in this because of the slight difference between the diameters of the holes through the button and the maximum diameter of the needle.

For one practice of this invention, the shank tube holding attachment consists of a second pair of jaw levers pivoted at the bottom of a bracket which is mounted on the front end of the frame member of the button clamp, and extends down centrally between the button clamp levers which shall be denoted as the first pair. Said second pair lie immediately below the first pair. The second pair of jaw levers are associated with and biased by a wire bow spring, to closed position. There is an adjustable set screw through each jaw lever of the second pair, which bear against said bracket, and when separately turned, will cause some turning movement of the jaw lever of the second pair it is associated with. The button clamp frame member, at its forward end, is already provided with a central channel opening in such end, and a mounting screw through said frame member. .These were provided for attachment of a finger to hold down fabric worked on, when the stitching is used only for tacking, not button sewing. The bracket of the attachment has a slot like a mouth at its rear, which the forward end of said frame member is entered into and held secured by the mounting screw which is through an enlarged hole in the bracket. A tongue within the mouth, extending as part of the bracket, locates in said channel. There are adjustable set screws through the bracketwhich extend into said mouth, to bear against the forward end of said frame member, at either side of center Turning any of these last-mentioned set screws, shifts the bracket along line of finger travel in the button clamp. The four set screws are for orienting the shank tube clamp in relation to the button clamp, after the latter has been set true in relation to needle action by shifting the position of the said frame member to correct discrepancies occurring because of the presence of unintended variances in the button clamp mechanism.

In the accompanying drawing forming part of this specification, similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a usual button sewing machine whose well known button clamp is equipped with the attachment for presenting a shank tube under the button, so the stitching threads will sew them both on together; such attachment embodying the teachings of this invention, being fragmentarily shown.

FIG. 2 shows the top plan view of a button and a shank tube is shown in perspective.

FIG. 3 is an elevational view of the button and its shank tube, both sewn onto a fabric or the like. This shows the finished work done by the machine of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the ordinary button clamp used, on which my present attachment is to be mounted so the machine of FIG. 1 will accomplish the work shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the bracket structure which is part of the attachment taught herein.

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the assembly of the spring-biased jaw levers which is the remainder of the attachment to be carried in assembly with the bracket of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of the complete button shank holding attachment which is to be mounted on the button clamp of FIG. 4, in the machine of FIG. 1.

FIG. 8 is like FIG. 7, showing the attachment mounted on the frame member and is a fragmentary showing of the assembly of the button clamp and said attachment.

FIG. 9 is a bottom view of FIG. 8, showing the full assembly of the button clamp and saidxattachment, in loaded condition, that is, a button and its tubular shank element are held in place, ready to be sewn on together.

In the drawing, the numeral designates generally the work to be accomplished which consists of having a button 16 centrally atop a tubular shank protective element 17, both together sewn on a fabric 18, by the needle 19 of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1, comprising an ordinary button sewing machine designated generally by the numeral 20 ,and its usual button holder indicated generally by the numeral 21, in combination with the holder 22 for a tubular button shank element 17, in accordance with the teachings of this invention; such associated holders being designated generally by the numeral 23. The clamping jaws 24, 24 of the button holder, and the clamping jaws 25, 25' of the shank tube holder, extend free at needle station, towards the front of the machine 20 which is the narrow end at the left in FIG. 1, before which end the operator sits facing the needle 19 and its thread feeder 26.

The button holder 21 shown, as is well known, comprises an elongated frame plate 27, horizontally positioned, and mounted at its rear end by the screws 28 onto a swingably mounted cantilever bracket 29 which 'therealong, servingas a track for the elongated finger 32, which is symmetrically between the surfaces of the jaws 24,24"which make contact with the'button 16; such jaws being at the forward ends of the elongated levers pivoted on the axis screws 33,33 respectively; said levers being on the underside of the frame plate 27, and have followers 34,34 in respective engagement in the camming slots 35, 35' of the cam 36 which is secured centrally across said finger element 32, by a bolt 37. Cam position is changeable by the shifting lever which presents the finger piece 38,securable in position by screw 39. The clamping jaws 24,24 of the button holder are associated by a wire bow spring 40, which biases them to close.

It would appear that once the button holder 2l was mounted, and after some adjustment of positioning afforded by the enlarged holes 41 through which the screws 28 extend, so for a particular button 16 held in the jaws 24,24 and gauged for position by the finger 32, which gives the third point of contact to determine a circle, the holder 21 was correctly oriented so that the center of the button was in proper relation to the needle that upon change of the diameter of the button used, all that would be necessary would be to adjust the position of the cam 36 by manipulation of the screw 39 and the finger piece 38, to suit the new button diameter. But such is not true. Every time the button size is changed, it is necessary to loosen the screws 28, and newly orient the button holder 21, for proper needle action. The cam design does not maintain a constant center for the circles determined by the parts 24,24 and 32. In fact, the center is one which travels and even deviates from the center line of the mounting plate 27. Various factors of looseness in the construction of holder 21 and in its mounting, and certain leeway allowed by differences in the diameters of the holes through the buttons, thereby allowing slight angularities in setting the frame plate 27 in relation to needle position for center of button determining position, that the screws 28 need again be loosened and proper reorientation established.

Hence in providing a suitable holder 22 for combination with the button holder 21, to make the item 23, using one size button as a gauge, the position of the element 17 was determined and hence the dimensions of the parts for the shank tube holder clamp,for proper attachment to the frame plate 27. Of importance however is the provision made for independent adjustment of the jaw levers of clamp 22, to correct true center deviations, by shifting center of the shank tube 17 held in the clamp 22, to concentric relation, that is to be coaxial with the button held in the clamp 21 which has been properly oriented for needle action such independent adjustments for proper positioning of the parts of the shank tube clamp in relation to the parts of the button clamp 21, being effected by use of the set screws.

41', 41' and the possible shift of the mounting bracket 44 of the clamp 22 on the'frame plate 27, and by use of the set screws 42, 42, as will be explained in the description of the attachment 22, which now follows.

The upper portion of the bracket 44 is a C-clamp 45 but the screw 43 therefor threads into the hole 43' in the frame plate 27, and passes through an enlarged hole 46, so the position of the bracket 44 can be shifted in relation to said frame plate, with further shift adjustment for finer movement, by means of the said set screws 4l',41 which bear against the forward edge of said frame plate 27. The numeral 46' denotes a tongue which locates into the channel 31, to maintain the bracket 44 centrally of said frame plate 27. Said bracket 44 has two spaced downward legs 47,47 against which the set screws 42, 42' respectively bear, and between which legs the finger 32 is positioned. Each of these legs is bent to extend towards the rear end of the frame plate 27, where each terminates in a foot. These feet indicated by the numerals 48,48, serve to support the rear ends of the jaws levers 25, 25' where they are pivoted at 49,49 respectively; said levers coming downward in front to have their jaws below the jaws of the button clamp. The jaw levers of the shank tube holder 22 are associated by a wire bow spring 50 which biases them to closed position.

The jaws 25,25 are designed-to receive a shank tube element 17 of constant size, though it permits some variation for a little larger one. The machine condition shown in FIG. 1 is that when the machine is operating The combined holder device 23 is in lowered position, effected by the operator pressing down on a pedaLnot shown. When the stitching is complete, the meedle movement automatically stops and the arm 51 automatically lifts, and bears against the cam 52, thus causing the bracket 29 to swing upward thereby raising the device 23 to a normal rest position where the finished work is pulled out by the operator, who now laterally reloads the clamp of 44 with a shank tube 17, and the clamp 21 with a button 16 which rests on said tube when mounted in 21. The operator lines up the ducts of the tube with the holes through the button, and positions them in proper setting so the needle will pass through such openings. Now, placing a fabric 18 properly gauged, not shown, on the work support 30 the operator works the pedal to lower the bracket 29 to bring the loaded jaws down so the clamped tube 17 rests on the work, and to initiate the sewing cycle. When the sewing is completed, the cycle of operation will finish as mentioned.

All structure mentioned for the device 2l,already exists in machines used in the tailoring industry. No change therein is required for it to be associated with the auxiliary device 22. Existing equipment can therefore be easily provided with my present invention at a reasonable cost.

The marketed shank tube 17 is of a high melting point nylon,approximately 9/32 inch in diameter, and may be ofa color to suit. I

In order that the stitching shall be tight, the height of the shank tube 17 used, shall at least equal and preferably shall exceed the thickness of the clamp jaws 25,25.

This invention is capable of numerous forms and various applications without departing from the essential features herein disclosed. It is therefore intended and desired that the embodiment shown herein shall be deemed merely illustrative and not restrictive and that the patent shall cover all patentable novelty herein set forth; reference being had to the following claims rather than to the specific showing and description herein, to indicate the scope of this invention.

lclaim:

l. A button holder attachment in combination with a button holder for a button sewing machine provided with a needle at a sewing station of said machine, said button holder comprising a frame plate extending horizontally away from the needle, two jaws movably mounted on said frame plate and extending in space beyond an edge portion of said frame plate to the sewing station for holding a button of relatively large diameter at a predetermined position under the needle, means biasing said jaws toward one another for clamping a periphery of the button, and means disposed on said frame plate for adjusting an initial spacing of said jaws, said attachment comprising means for holding a tubular shank element of a relatively small diameter immediately below the button for the button to rest on centrally therewith so that the button and the shank element can be sewn together on one surface of a piece of work upon operation of the machine, said attachment holding means including two elongated jaw levers, means pivotally mounting said jaw levers below said button holder jaws on a lower portion of a bracket with said jaw levers extending toward the needle so that said jaw levers hold the shank element centrally of the button held by said button holder, means removably securing an upper portion of said bracket to said edge portion of said frame plate with said lower portion of said bracket extending downwardly between said button holder jaws to position said jaw levers below said button holder jaws, spring means for biasing said jaw levers toward one another for clamping the shank element, each of said jaw levers being provided with a threaded hole therethrough perpendicular to its axis of swing and adjacent to said lower portion of said bracket, and screw means threadedly engaged in said hole of each of said jaw levers and bearing against said lower portion of said bracket for independent adjustment of each of said jaw levers relative to said button holder jaws, whereby turning said screw means respectively will independently move an associated jaw lever about its axis of swing in a direction relative to said lower portion of said bracket.

2. A button holder attachment in combination with a button holder according to claim 1, wherein said means removably securing said upper portion of said bracket include a screw threadedly engaged in said frame plate, saidframe plate screw extending through aperture means in said upper portion of said bracket, said aperture means allowing said bracket to be moved relative to said edge portion of said frame plate with said frame plate screw in a loosened condition for adjusting said jaw levers relative to the needle, whereby said frame plate screw'when tightened maintains said bracket in its adjusted position. 1

3. A button holder attachment in combination with a button holder according to claim 2, wherein said aperture means includes an enlarged hole in relationship to said frame plate screw.

.4. A button holder attachment in combination with a button holder according to claim 2, wherein said bracket includes finer adjustment means for further adjusting said jaw levers relative to the needle, said finer adjustment means comprising at least one screw threadedly engaged through said upper portion of said bracket and bearing against an edge of said frame plate facing the needle, whereby turning said at least one screw moves said bra'cket relative to said frame plate in a direction of the needle when said frame plate screw is in said loosened condition.

5. A button holder attachment in combination with a button holder according in claim 2, wherein said bracket includes a channel thereacross, said frame plate being slidably positioned within said channel with surfaces of said channel bearing against said edge portion of said frame plate, said aperture means extending through a wall of said channel.

6. A button holder attachment in combination with a button holder according'to claim 5, wherein said edge portion of said frame plate is provided with a channel disposed centrally between said button holder jaws in open communication with said bracket channel, said bracket including a tongue element extending into said bracket channel and slidably fitted in said frame plate channel to maintain said bracket centrally of said frame plate.

7. A button holder attachment in combination with a button holder according to claim 1, wherein said button holder includes a finger provided with a tip for contacting the periphery of the button disposed between said button holder jaws and said edge portion of said frame plate, means movably mounting said finger on said frame plate along a line centrally disposed between said button holder jaws, means associated with said finger for securing said finger to said frame plate in any set position thereon, said lower portion of said bracket including two spaced apart legs, said finger being disposed between said legs, said screw means bearing against said legs respectively, said jaw levers being pivotally mounted on said legs. 

1. A button holder attachment in combination with a button holder for a button sewing machine provided with a needle at a sewing station of said machine, said button holder comprising a frame plate extending horizontally away from the needle, two jaws movably mounted on said frame plate and extending in space beyond an edge portion of said frame plate to the sewing station for holding a button of relatively large diameter at a predetermined position under the needle, means biasing said jaws toward one another for clamping a periphery of the button, and means disposed on said frame plate for adjusting an initial spacing of said jaws, said attachment comprising means for holding a tubular shank element of a relatively small diameter immediately below the button for the button to rest on centrally therewith so that the button and the shank element can be sewn together on one surface of a piece of work upon operation of the machine, said attachment holding means including two elongated jaw levers, means pivotally mounting said jaw levers below said button holder jaws on a lower portion of a bracket with said jaw levers extending toward the needle so that said jaw levers hold the shank element centrally of the button held by said button holder, means removably securing an upper portion of said bracket to said edge portion of said frame plate with said lower portion of said bracket extending downwardly between said button holder jaws to position said jaw levers below said button holder jaws, spring means for biasing said jaw levers toward one another for clamping the shank element, each of said jaw levers being provided with a threaded hole therethrough perpendicular to its axis of swing and adjacent to said lower portion of said bracket, and screw means threadedly engaged in said hole of each of said jaw levers and bearing against said lower portion of said bracket for independent adjustment of each of said jaw levers relative to said button holder jaws, whereby turning said screw means respectively will independently move an associated jaw lever about its axis of swing in a direction relative to said lower portion of said bracket.
 1. A button holder attachment in combination with a button holder for a button sewing machine provided with a needle at a sewing station of said machine, said button holder comprising a frame plate extending horizontally away from the needle, two jaws movably mounted on said frame plate and extending in space beyond an edge portion of said frame plate to the sewing station for holding a button of relatively large diameter at a predetermined position under the needle, means biasing said jaws toward one another for clamping a periphery of the button, and means disposed on said frame plate for adjusting an initial spacing of said jaws, said attachment comprising means for holding a tubular shank element of a relatively small diameter immediately below the button for the button to rest on centrally therewith so that the button and the shank element can be sewn together on one surface of a piece of work upon operation of the machine, said attachment holding means including two elongated jaw levers, means pivotally mounting said jaw levers below said button holder jaws on a lower portion of a bracket with said jaw levers extending toward the needle so that said jaw levers hold the shank element centrally of the button held by said button holder, means removably securing an upper portion of said bracket to said edge portion of said frame plate with said lower portion of said bracket extending downwardly between said button holder jaws to position said jaw levers below said button holder jaws, spring means for biasing said jaw levers toward one another for clamping the shank element, each of said jaw levers being provided with a threaded hole therethrough perpendicular to its axis of swing and adjacent to said lower portion of said bracket, and screw means threadedly engaged in said hole of each of said jaw levers and bearing against said lower portion of said bracket for independent adjustment of each of said jaw levers relative to said button holder jaws, whereby turning said screw means respectively will independently move an associated jaw lever about its axis of swing in a direction relative to said lower portion of said bracket.
 2. A button holder attachment in combination with a button holder according to claim 1, wherein said means removably securing said upper portion of said bracket include a screw threadedly engaged in said frame plate, said frame plate screw extending through aperture means iN said upper portion of said bracket, said aperture means allowing said bracket to be moved relative to said edge portion of said frame plate with said frame plate screw in a loosened condition for adjusting said jaw levers relative to the needle, whereby said frame plate screw when tightened maintains said bracket in its adjusted position.
 3. A button holder attachment in combination with a button holder according to claim 2, wherein said aperture means includes an enlarged hole in relationship to said frame plate screw.
 4. A button holder attachment in combination with a button holder according to claim 2, wherein said bracket includes finer adjustment means for further adjusting said jaw levers relative to the needle, said finer adjustment means comprising at least one screw threadedly engaged through said upper portion of said bracket and bearing against an edge of said frame plate facing the needle, whereby turning said at least one screw moves said bracket relative to said frame plate in a direction of the needle when said frame plate screw is in said loosened condition.
 5. A button holder attachment in combination with a button holder according in claim 2, wherein said bracket includes a channel thereacross, said frame plate being slidably positioned within said channel with surfaces of said channel bearing against said edge portion of said frame plate, said aperture means extending through a wall of said channel.
 6. A button holder attachment in combination with a button holder according to claim 5, wherein said edge portion of said frame plate is provided with a channel disposed centrally between said button holder jaws in open communication with said bracket channel, said bracket including a tongue element extending into said bracket channel and slidably fitted in said frame plate channel to maintain said bracket centrally of said frame plate. 